CS104: Complete Cybersecurity Bootcamp 2026 – Ethical Hacking & Defense (Free)

Complete Cybersecurity Bootcamp 2026: Ethical Hacking & Defense

The cybersecurity landscape has never been more critical. With over 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally and cyberattacks increasing by 38% year-over-year, organizations are desperately seeking skilled professionals who can defend their digital assets. This comprehensive bootcamp transforms beginners into job-ready cybersecurity professionals through hands-on ethical hacking training, defensive security strategies, and real-world penetration testing scenarios.

Why Cybersecurity Matters in 2026

The digital transformation accelerated by remote work and cloud adoption has expanded the attack surface exponentially. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, global cybercrime damages are projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, making cybersecurity one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative career paths. The average salary for a cybersecurity professional in the United States exceeds $112,000 per year, with senior roles commanding upwards of $150,000.

This bootcamp addresses the critical skills gap by providing comprehensive training in both offensive security (ethical hacking) and defensive security (incident response and threat mitigation). You’ll learn the same techniques used by professional penetration testers and security analysts at Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and cybersecurity firms.

Comprehensive Curriculum: From Fundamentals to Advanced Techniques

Module 1: Cybersecurity Foundations

Understanding the fundamentals is essential before diving into advanced techniques. This module covers the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability), threat modeling, risk assessment methodologies, and the ethical and legal frameworks governing cybersecurity. You’ll learn about compliance requirements including GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOC 2, which are critical for enterprise security roles.

We’ll explore the cybersecurity kill chain and the MITRE ATT&CK framework, industry-standard models used by security operations centers (SOCs) worldwide to detect, analyze, and respond to threats. Understanding these frameworks positions you to think like both an attacker and a defender.

Module 2: Linux Command Line & Kali Linux Mastery

Linux is the operating system of choice for cybersecurity professionals. This module provides intensive training in Linux command-line operations, shell scripting, and system administration. You’ll master Kali Linux, the industry-standard penetration testing distribution, and learn to configure and customize your hacking environment.

Topics include file system navigation, process management, user permissions, networking commands (netstat, ifconfig, ip), package management, and automation through bash scripting. These skills form the foundation for all subsequent penetration testing activities.

Module 3: Networking Fundamentals for Hackers

A deep understanding of networking is non-negotiable for cybersecurity professionals. This module covers the OSI model, TCP/IP protocol suite, subnetting, routing, switching, and network protocols including HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, DHCP, FTP, SSH, and Telnet.

You’ll learn to analyze network traffic using Wireshark, perform packet analysis, and understand how data flows across networks. This knowledge is critical for identifying vulnerabilities and conducting man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks during penetration tests.

Module 4: Information Gathering & Reconnaissance

The reconnaissance phase is where every successful penetration test begins. You’ll master both passive and active information gathering techniques using tools like Nmap, Netdiscover, Maltego, theHarvester, and Shodan. Learn to enumerate subdomains, discover hidden directories, identify open ports and services, and map network topology.

This module also covers Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques for gathering publicly available information about targets, including social media reconnaissance, DNS enumeration, and WHOIS lookups. These skills are essential for both penetration testing and threat intelligence roles.

Module 5: Vulnerability Analysis & Exploitation

Once vulnerabilities are identified, the next step is exploitation. This module provides hands-on training with Metasploit Framework, the world’s most widely used penetration testing platform. You’ll learn to search for exploits, configure payloads, establish reverse shells, and maintain persistent access to compromised systems.

Topics include buffer overflow exploitation, privilege escalation techniques (both Linux and Windows), post-exploitation activities, and lateral movement within networks. You’ll practice these skills in controlled lab environments using intentionally vulnerable machines like Metasploitable and HackTheBox.

Module 6: Web Application Penetration Testing

Web applications represent one of the largest attack surfaces for modern organizations. This comprehensive module covers the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), insecure deserialization, and broken authentication.

You’ll use industry-standard tools like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, SQLmap, and Nikto to identify and exploit web vulnerabilities. Learn to bypass authentication mechanisms, manipulate cookies and sessions, and extract sensitive data from databases. This module also covers API security testing and modern JavaScript framework vulnerabilities.

Module 7: Wireless Network Hacking

Wireless networks remain a significant security concern for organizations. This module teaches you to crack WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption using tools like Aircrack-ng, Reaver, and Wifite. You’ll learn to perform deauthentication attacks, capture handshakes, and conduct evil twin attacks.

Understanding wireless security is critical for both penetration testers and security auditors, as misconfigured wireless networks often provide an easy entry point for attackers.

Module 8: Password Cracking & Social Engineering

Human error remains the weakest link in cybersecurity. This module covers password cracking techniques using John the Ripper, Hashcat, and Hydra, including dictionary attacks, brute force attacks, and rainbow table attacks. You’ll learn to crack various hash types (MD5, SHA-1, NTLM, bcrypt) and understand password storage best practices.

Social engineering training includes phishing campaign creation, pretexting, baiting, and physical security testing. You’ll use the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET) to craft convincing phishing emails and credential harvesting pages.

Module 9: Malware Development & Analysis

Understanding how malware works is essential for both offensive and defensive security. This module teaches you to create custom payloads, trojans, keyloggers, and backdoors using Python and PowerShell. You’ll learn to obfuscate code, evade antivirus detection, and establish command-and-control (C2) infrastructure.

On the defensive side, you’ll analyze malware samples in isolated environments, perform static and dynamic analysis, and understand indicators of compromise (IOCs). This knowledge is critical for malware analysts and incident responders.

Module 10: Cloud Security (AWS, Azure, GCP)

As organizations migrate to the cloud, cloud security skills have become essential. This module covers security best practices for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). You’ll learn to identify misconfigurations, secure S3 buckets, implement IAM policies, and conduct cloud penetration testing.

Topics include serverless security, container security (Docker, Kubernetes), and cloud-native security tools. Understanding cloud security is critical as over 90% of enterprises now use multi-cloud strategies.

Module 11: Incident Response & Digital Forensics

When breaches occur, organizations need professionals who can respond quickly and effectively. This module covers the incident response lifecycle: preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. You’ll learn to analyze logs, preserve evidence, conduct memory forensics, and write comprehensive incident reports.

Digital forensics training includes disk imaging, file carving, timeline analysis, and chain of custody procedures. These skills are essential for SOC analysts, incident responders, and forensic investigators.

Module 12: Certification Preparation & Career Development

This bootcamp prepares you for industry-recognized certifications including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), CompTIA Security+, and GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC). We provide exam preparation resources, practice tests, and study guides to maximize your certification success.

Career development training includes resume optimization, interview preparation, portfolio building, and networking strategies. You’ll learn to showcase your skills through bug bounty programs, CTF competitions, and open-source contributions.

Real-World Case Studies

Throughout the bootcamp, you’ll analyze real-world breaches including the SolarWinds supply chain attack, Colonial Pipeline ransomware incident, and Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerabilities. Understanding how these attacks were executed and how they could have been prevented provides invaluable insights for your cybersecurity career.

Hands-On Labs & Projects

Theory alone doesn’t create skilled cybersecurity professionals. This bootcamp includes over 50 hands-on labs and practical projects where you’ll apply your knowledge in realistic scenarios. Projects include:

• Building a home penetration testing lab
• Conducting a full penetration test on a vulnerable web application
• Creating a custom exploit for a known vulnerability
• Developing a security automation script
• Performing a comprehensive security audit
• Responding to a simulated security incident

Career Opportunities & Salary Expectations

Completing this bootcamp prepares you for roles including:

• Penetration Tester – Average salary: $95,000 – $140,000
• Security Analyst – Average salary: $75,000 – $110,000
• Incident Responder – Average salary: $85,000 – $125,000
• Security Engineer – Average salary: $100,000 – $150,000
• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – Average salary: $150,000 – $300,000+

The cybersecurity job market is projected to grow by 31% through 2029, significantly faster than the average for all occupations. With the skills from this bootcamp, you’ll be positioned to enter one of the most in-demand and rewarding career fields.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

This course emphasizes the importance of ethical hacking and legal compliance. You’ll learn about computer fraud laws, authorized testing agreements, responsible disclosure practices, and the ethical responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals. All techniques taught in this course are for educational purposes and authorized testing only.

Prerequisites and Requirements

This bootcamp is designed for beginners with no prior cybersecurity experience. Basic computer literacy and familiarity with operating systems is helpful but not required. You’ll need a computer capable of running virtual machines (8GB RAM minimum, 16GB recommended) and a willingness to learn through hands-on practice.

Start Your Cybersecurity Journey Today

The demand for cybersecurity professionals has never been higher, and the opportunities have never been greater. This comprehensive bootcamp provides everything you need to launch a successful career in cybersecurity, from foundational knowledge to advanced exploitation techniques. Whether you’re looking to break into the field, advance your current career, or start your own security consulting business, this bootcamp gives you the skills and credentials employers are seeking.

Join thousands of successful graduates who have transformed their careers through ethical hacking and cybersecurity training. Your journey to becoming a certified cybersecurity professional starts here.